Circular-knitting machine



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J-. B. PAXTON 85 13.1. O'NEILL.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

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J. B. PAXTON & E; I. ONEILL. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE,

No. 595,889. Patented Dec. 21, 189 7.

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Patented Dec. 21, 1897.

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UNITED STATES ATENT Trice.

JOHN B. PAXTUN AND ELLIS I. ONEILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,889, dated December 21, 1897.

Application filed October 15, 1895. Serial No. 565,738. (No model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. PAXTON and ELLIs I. ONEILL,citizens of the United States, residing'in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates particularly, though not exclusively, to that class of circular-knitting machines technically termed threequarter automatic, in which are provisions for automatically effecting the disengagement from and reengagement with the knittingcams of those needles which are usually'ma nipulated during the formation of the heel and toe parts of a stocking.

The present improvements apply more especially to machines in which the needlecontrolling mechanism is in the nature of spring-actuated pickers that are periodically projected into the path of the active and inactive needles to effect the requisite disposition of such needles in respect to the knitting-cams. Needle-picking mechanism of this character is set out in our Letters Patent of the United States, No. 521,218, dated June 12, 1894, to which reference may be had.

The leading features of the invention herein described comprehend, first, certain improvements in the needle-picking mechanism and in the means for controlling the same; secondly, means whereby the continuous rotary and the reciprocating rotary movements are imparted to the cam-cylinder; thirdly, a novel construction and arrangement of cam for depressing the half-series of inactive needles upon the completion of the heel or toe fastening operation; fourthly, means whereby the tension of the stitches may be varied at predetermined intervals; fifthly, a novel construction of sinker mechanism, and, finally, various features of construction and organization of parts which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the machine,the needle-cylinder and part of the driving mechanism being omitted. Fig. 1 is a sectional detail of a pawl-controlling arm hereinafter referred to. Fig. 2

is a front view of the machine with parts broken away for clearness. Fig. 3 is a View of the left-hand end of the machine at and below the bed-plate. Fig. 4 is a plan of the belt-shipper and adjuncts. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for actuating the pattern-chain which controls the tube-knitting operation. Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section, as on theline was of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the driving mechanism. Fig. 8 is a development of the exterior of the cam-cylinder and the needle-controlling mechanism thereon. Fig.9 is a development of a portion of the interior of the cam-cylinder. Fig. 10 is a section through the clutch and fast pulley, as on the line y y of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating as in operation the diagonal cam for depressing into action the half-series of idle needles. Fig. 12 illustrates a modification of said cam. Fig. 13 is a detail of the checkcam which coacts with the needle-depressor. Fig. 14 is a plan-of the needle-cylinder and sinker mechanism. Fig. 15 is a section enlarged, as on the line z z of Fig. 14:. Fig.

16 is a development of the sinker-actuating cams.

' The bed 1, needle cylinder 2, rotatable cam-cylinder 3, and knitting-cams 4 are, excepting as hereinafter described, of usual construction. The flanged base of the camcylinder is supported upon the bed-plate and is provided with bevel-gear teeth, which coact with the teeth of a bevel-wheel 6 on a horizontal driving-shaft 7, as ordinarily.

Fitted to an inclined slot in the wall of the cam-cylinder, at a point in advance of the knitting-cams,is a reciprocative cam 8,which, preparatory to the knitting of fashioned work, is projected into the needle-cylinder for the purpose of deflecting upward out of action one-half of the circular, series of needles. The construction and operation of this cam being fully set out in our previous patent no detailed description thereof is deemed necessary in this case.

Upon the cam-cylinder is supported suitable needle-picking mechanism, which, for the sake of illustration, is represented as of the character described in our said patent that is tosay, there are a pair of lifters 9 and a pair of depressors 10. Each of these'members comprises a vertical post 11, suitably disposed on the flange of the camcylinder, an arm 12, mounted on the post so as to be rotatable and vertically-movable thereon, a cam 13, constructed and arranged to eifect the requisite movements of the arm whena needle is engaged by the latter, and a spring 14, arranged to return the arm to a normal or active position in opposition to the cam. In our previous construction, ,as will be seen by reference to our former patent, the lifters and depressors were moved to their idle position or permitted to return to their active position by properly rotating the individual cam-heads by hand, it being understood, of course, that during the knitting of tubular workas, for example, the leg or foot of a stocking-the entire picking mechanism is idle, that during the operation of narrowingin. the formation of the heel or toe, for instaiiee--the lifters only are active, and that during the complementary widening operation the depressors only are active. In our present construction, however, the cam-heads are fixed and there is provided a simple and eifieient means whereby the lifters may be simultaneously moved into action pneparas tory to the operation of narrowing and the depressors are moved downward below the path to which the heels of the needles are raised by the lifters during such operation and whereby the lifters are automatically raised out of action and the depressors moved into action preparatory to the succeeding widening operation.

The picker-controlling means comprises a segmental plate 15, fitted to and guided in recessed plates 16, that are secured to suitably-arranged posts 17, rising from the flange of the cam-cylinder. This segmental plate is connected with the pickers, and it is provided with appropriate surfaces, which are so arranged in respect to each other and to the pickers that during the movements-of the plate the requisite periodical changes of the pickers are effected, as will presently appear. In the upper edge of the segment, at points adjacent to the respective lifters, are V-shaped recesses 18, while in the lower edge of the segment, adjacent to the respective depressors, are step-like recesses 19, each of the latter being composed of two portions, a and b on different horizontal planes, as shown. Extending outwardly from the sleevesof the picker-arms are studs 20, which intersect the path of the segment, the studs of the lifters, when the latter are in the raised or idle position, resting (against the compression of their springs) upon the upper edge 0 of the segment adjacent to the recesses 18, respectively, and the studs of the depressors, when the latter are in their normally-raised position, extending into the spaces or portions a of the recesses 19, respectively.

During the knitting of straight-ahead or tubular work the pickers occupy the respective positions just described.

cesses, respectively.

Preparatory to the formation of the heel or the toe of the stocking the operator moves the segment in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, a suitable knob or handle 21 being provided for that purpose, thus presenting the recesses 18 to the studs of the lifters, which latter, being unsupported by the segment, are perforce depressed into action by their springs, and at the same time forcing the beveled portions cl of the segment adjacent to the recesses 19 against the studs of the depressors and forcing the studs down and under the lower portions Z; of said remaintained below their normally active plane. The pickers having been set in the relative positions just described, the cam-cylinder is rcciprocated until the desired narrowing of the web has been effected, whereupon the segment is moved to its previous position to release the depressors and raise the lifters out of act-ion. This being done the web is widened correspondingly with the narrowing in the usual way, following which a tubular portion is knit, and so on successively.

The movement of the segment to effect the change from narrowing to widening is attained automatically by means which we shall proceed to describe. To one end of the segment and to the proximate supporting-post 17 is secured a' spring 22, the tendency of which is to retract the segment and maintain it in the position firstdescribed-i. (2., the tubular-knitting position. Fixed to the wall of the cam-cylinder adjacent to this spring is a bracket 23, from which extends a stud 24, carrying a vibratory latch-arm 25, that bears yieldingly upon the upper edge of the segment, a suitably-arranged torsional spring 26 effecting such yielding action. 111 the upper edge of the segment is a notch 27, which is so disposed in respect to the arm that when the segment is moved by the operator, as and for the purpose stated, the latch engages the notch and thus locks the segment in position against the action of the spring. Hence if the latch be disengaged from the notch the springwill retract the segment to the original position.

To the rearward part of the bed-plate is fixed abracket 28, provided with hearings in which is-supported a rock-shaft 29. On one end of this shaft is a forwardly-extending arm 30, on the free end of which rests the rearward arm of a lever 31, that is fulcrumed to a lateral bracket 32 on the bedplate. The forward arm of the lever rests upon the lower L-shaped arm of a vertical lever 38, that is fulcrumed on a stud projecting from the bracket 32, a torsional spring 35 on said stud acting to maintain the upper arm of the lever 33 normally outward.

To the free end of this arm is loosely fitted a stud 36, carrying a head 37, the upper edge of which is preferably oppositely beveled or inclined, a set screw 38, supported by the boss of the arm, bearing upon the stud and serving to secure Thus the depressors are IIS the head ad j ustably in place. When the arm is in its normal or outward position, the head is beyond the path of the latch-arm; but preparatory to the operation of widening the arm is moved to project the head into the path of said latch-arm, whereupon the latter impinges against the opposed edge of the head and is raisedthereby to free the segment.

The described movement of the lever 33 is efiected through the rock-shaft 29 and the intermediate connections, the shaft being turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. The operation of the shaft is automatically attained at the proper time through the medium of a pattern-chain 39, the same being provided with a projection 40, that during the traverse of the chain impinges against an arm 41 on the rock-shaft.

The chain 39 is carried bya sprocket-wheel 42, which is loosely mounted on a shaft 43, having bearings supported by the bracket 28. Fixed to or formed on the face of this wheel is a ratchet-wheel 42, with the teeth of which engages a pawl 44. This pawl is supported by-a vibratory depending arm 45, which is actuated at predetermined intervals-that is, during the knitting of the heel and toe-so as to turn the sprocket-wheel and advance the sprocket-chainintermittently, as will hereinafter appear.

On the shaft 7 are the fast and loose pulleys 46 47, respectively, which are periodically connected withEa pulley 48 on the main driving-shaft 49 by means of a belt 50. On theouter face of the fast pulley is fixed an eccentric 51, (for a purpose below explained,) adjacent to which, on the shaft 7, is loosely mounted a circumferentially-grooved collar or clutch member 52, carrying an integral sprocket-wheel 53. This wheel is geared by means of a chain 54 with a larger sprocketwheel 55, the shaft of which is mounted in a suitably-located bracket or hanger 56. Fast on a shaft 57, forwardly of the wheel 55, is a crank-wheel 58, that is connected with the former wheel by means of a pitman 59, said shaft being equipped with a pulley 60, that is belted with and continuously driven from.

a pulley 61 on the main driving-shaft 49. By this construction a reciprocating rotary motion is imparted to the sprocket-Wheel 55 and transmitted therefrom by the belt 54 to the sprocket-wheel 53 on the shaft 7. Hence if the belt 50 be running on the loose pulley and to, is the rearward end of a belt-shipper frame 63, through which the belt extends, the outer end of such framebeing provided with an appropriate handle. The frame is maintained normally adjacent to the loose pulley by means of a stout spring 64, one end of which is secured to a pin 65 on the shipper-frame and the other end to a pin 66, depending from a bracket or lug 67 on the side of the usual gear-case 68. The shipper-frame is held adjacent to the fast pulley against the action of this spring by means of a suitable latch-arm 69, one end of which is pivotally connected with the frame, as at 70. This arm is bent downward, as at 71, so as to extend under the gear-case, and is provided with a suitablylocated notch or recess 72, which engages a lug or projection 7 3 on said case. A spring 74, interposed between the frame and the arm adjacent to the pivotal connection, serves to maintain the latch-arm yieldingly engaged with the lug or projection. The outer portion of this arm is slotted longitudinally, as at 75, a vertically-reciprocative pin 76, which is fitted to the lug or bracket 67 on the gearcase, extending through the slotin the arm. I

spring to retract it toward the loose pulley and thus to transfer the belt onto the latter.

Rising from the bracket 67 is a post 78, to which is fulcrumed a lever 79, one arm of which is provided with a lateral extension 80, that bears upon the head of the pin 76, while the other arm is provided with a stud that projects in proximity to'an appropriate pattern-chain 81. On this chain is a projection 81", which, at a prescribed period during the traverse of the chain, abuts against said stud, raises the same, and in consequence depresses the pin 76, with the effect above stated.

' The chain is carried by a sprocket-wheel 81 fast on one end of the shaft 43, above referred to. of the shaft are mounted, side by side, two ratchet-wheels 82 83, one of which is-fixed and the other loose. corresponding number of similarly-pitched teeth; but the loose Wheel is slightly larger than the other, every sixth, say interdental, space of such loose wheel being deepen-ed to register with the corresponding space in the fixed wheel. During tubular knitting the ratchet-wheels are periodically actuated by means-of a pawl 84, which is connected with and reciprocated by an eccentric 85 on the driving-shaft 7. The end of the pawl being wide enough to extend over the two wheels it racks the loose wheel a distance of six spaces, in which case, being in a deep space, it engages the fast wheel, moves the same a distance'of one tooth, and accordingly moves the shaft. In the next stroke of the pawl it will engage the following tooth of the loose These wheels have a ICS On the other (or right-hand) end wheel and rack the latter idly until the succeeding deep space is engaged, whereupon the fast wheel and the shaft will be advanced as before, and so on. As long as the pawl is in action the shaft will be periodically moved. "While the shaft is being intermittently rotated the chain 81 is advanced step by step, the number of links, owing to the prolonged intervals between the succeeding movements, being materially reduced.

A suitably arranged spring 86 tends to maintain the pawl yieldingly in engagement with the ratchet-wheels,whilea pair of springactuated stop pawls 87, mounted on the bracket 28, prevents backward movement of the wheels.

When the operation of the machine has been arrested upon the completion of the leg and preparatory to the knitting of the heel, the operator throws into action the diagonal needle-raising cam 8 and effects thereby the inaction of the half-series of needles, as herein'before described. He then retracts said cam and subsequently shifts the segmental plate 15 to set the needle-lifters in operative position, as previously explained. This being done the pawl 84 is disengaged from the ratchet-wheels and the clutch member is engaged with the fast pulley to accomplish the requisite reciprocations of the cam-cylinder.

The means for operating the pawl and clutch member is of the following construction: Adjacent to the fast pulley is a forwardly-extending hand-lever 88, the rearward end of which is pivoted to a depending boss on an appropriate bracket or extension 89, which may form an integral part of or be secured to the bed-plate of the machine. Extending outwardly from the side of the lever is an arm 90, the outer end of which is bent or inclined upward, as seen. Resting upon this arm is a rearwardly-extending rock-arm 91, the forward end of which is mounted on a stud-shaft 92, supported on a projecting limb of the bracket 89. The forward end of the rock-arm extends freely through a perforated lug 93 on the pawl 84, whereby when the hand-lever is moved laterally toward the fast pulley the inclined portion of the arm 90 rides under the rock-arm and raises the latter, which, perforce, lifts the pawl out of action. (See Fig. 5.) A depending stud 94 on the hand lever enters the circumferential groove in the clutch member 52, so that when the lever is moved as just stated such mem her, with its connections, is correspondingly moved, a stud 95 on the face of the eccentric thereupon registering with a relatively-located socket 96 in the member and thuslocking the reciprocating sprocket-wheel to the fastpulley 4:6. The hand-lever is normally held in the outer (or tube-knitting) position by the action of a spring 96, which, encircling the shaft 92, bearsagainst a shoulder 96 on the latter and a lug on the lever. When the lever is moved inward against the stress of the spring, the lever is temporarily locked in place by means of an appropriate latch, which in this instance comprises a rocking lever97, fulcrumed to lugs 98 on the hand-lever. The forward arm of the latchdever, as it may be termed, is provided with an L-shaped extension that depends freely through a slot in the hand-lever. The horizontal member of the extension projects under the stud-shaft 92, being provided with a notch or recess99, which automatically engages said shaft when the hand-lever is moved inward, such automatic action being effected by means of a spiral spring 100, which bears upon a shoulder on a dep'ending pin 101 on the rear arm of the latch-lever and against the under side of the hand-lever, through which the pin freely extends. It will be seen that by depressing the forward arm of the latch-lever by pressure thereon by hand or by the act of raising the pin (in the manner below described) the latch will be disengaged from the stud and the spring will return the hand-lever and its connections to their original condition.

Pivoted to the rearward arm of the latchlever is thefpawl-bearing arm 45, above referred to. This arm is provided with a heel 102, which is so disposed in respect to theeccentric on the fast pulley that when thehandlever is in the outer position-'t'. c. during the knitting of tubular work-the heel is out of the path of the eccentric, but that when the hand-lever is moved inward preparatory to the reciprocating operation the heel 102 is projected into the path of the eccentric, so as to be reciprocated thereby. Thus the pawl 44: is actuated to effect the intermittent movement of the sprocket-wheel 42 and chain 39 v 1045, which limits the forward movement of the arm. lVhen' the heel of the stocking has been completed, a suitably-arranged projection on the pattern-chain 39 abuts against the pin on the latch-arm, thereby effecting the release of the hand-lever in the manner above described.

The machine being at rest, the operator by novel meanshereinafter described returns the half-series of idle needles to action. He then grasps the belt-shipper and transfers the belt onto the fast pulley, whereupon the machine proceeds with the knitting of the foot portion of the stocking in a manner similar to that described in regard tothe knitting of the leg portion. Upon the completion of the foot a suitably-arranged stop on the chain 39 coacts with the lever to effect the release of the beltshipper and the consequent transference of the belt from the fast to the loose pulley, following which the operation of knitting the toe is performed similarly in all respects to that of the heel hereinbefore set forth.

The means above alluded to for returning the half-series of needles to action when the fashioning operation has been completed is clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 11 of the drawings, as follows: In the wall of the cam-cylinder, at a suitable point beyond the knittingcams, is formed an inclined slot, to which is edgewise fitted a cam-plate 106 in a manner to be movable into and from the interior of the cam-cylinder. outwardly from this plate, extends freely through a guide-post 108, affixed to theexterior of the cylinder, the outer end of the arm being perforated to receive one end of a suitably-disposed spring 109, which tends to retract the arm and the cam-plate. The path of movement of the plate is eccentric (as distinguished from aradial path) to the axis of the cam-cylinder; but its forward or acting portion is beveled radially in respect to the latter, as at 110, whereby if the cam-plate be pushed (by hand) into the cylinder against the stress of the spring such radial portion during the stroke of the cylinder will engage the first needle-heel in its path and be locked in action thereby, such engaged needle, to

gether with the succeeding upraised needles, thus being directed downward into active position by the cam-plate. Immediately upon the plate escaping the needles such plate, being unrestrained, is retracted by the spring.

Instead of the cam-plate being a sliding member it may be a swinging one, as represented in Fig. 12that is to say, the plate is supported upon one arm of a lever 107, that is fulcrumed to a bracket exteriorly of the cam-cylinder, a suitably-disposed torsional spring 109 tending to maintain the plate in the outward or retracted position. By this construction it will be seen that when the plate is moved into the cam-cylinder the action of the opposed needle-heels thereon prevents the spring retracting the plate until all the needles have been directed down by and below the said plate. Other modifications of this needle-lowering cam will suggest themselves to the mechanic.

As a simple and efficient means whereby the needle-cylinder shall be automatically lowered preparatory to the knitting of the ankle portion of the stocking, to the end that the resultant tightening of the stitches shall reduce such portion, we have provided the following construction, reference being had to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings: Depending from the usual needle-cylinder clamp 111 is an arm 112, which is provided at its lower outwardly extending end with a vertical guide-post 113, that extends freely through the bracket 32 on the bed-plate. Secured to this bracket is the upper end of a depending arm 114, in the lower end of which is formed a circular opening for the reception of an eccentric headll. The shaft 116 of this head extends into the limbs of a yoke-head 117, to which is affixed the lower end of the arm 112, whereby when the eccentric is turned to the right or to the left the yoke-head and,perforce,

An arm 107, projecting.

the action of the depressor upon its cam.

the connected arm and the needle-cylinder are raised or lowered, as desired. Fixed to the shaft of the eccentric is a lever 118, one arm of which constitutes a handle, while the other arm 119 extends in proximity to the patternchain 81, before described. At a suitable point on this chain is a lateral projection 80*, which immediately before the knitting of the ankle is carried by the advancing chain against the lever-arm 119, thereby forcing upward said arm and turning the eccentric in a manner to effect the lowering of the needlecylinder. This being done the projection escapes the lever-arm and continues onward with the chain. ceed with the knitting of normal stitches, the operator grasps the handle portion of the lever and returns the eccentric to its original position. A set-screw 120, affixed to a projecting lug on the yoke-head, limits the upward movement of the handle.

To the end that the relative tensions of the stitches during the knitting of the stocking may be nicely predetermined we make the arm 112 vertically adj ustable-that is to say, the upper end of the arm is slotted vertically to receive a guide-stud 121 on the bracket'31, and set-screws 122 are fitted to the lower walls of the slot, so as to take against the stud. Hence by properly manipulating these screws the arm and its connected parts may be nicely adjusted vertically and fixed in their positions of adjustment.

It will be obvious that by reversing the position of the eccentric in respect to the other coacting parts a loosening instead of a tightening of the stitches will be effected under the circumstances stated.

Recurring now to the needle-picking mechanism, it will be observed by reference to Figs. 1 and 13 that there is mounted on the upper end of each of the posts of the depressors an arm 123, from which depends adjacent to the cam 13 and rearward of the \Vhen it is desired to propicker-arm a plate 124, the forward edge of which is inclined, like the cam. This edge is held yieldingly beyond the cam by the action 1 against a needle preparatory to lowering the latter the retreat of the depressor is temporarily opposed by the plate 124, which latter upon being overcome by the force or thrust of the depressor moves backward to perniit n the absence of this restraining-plate or checkcam we have found that the depressor upon impinging against a needle will recoil, and

thus moving slightly downward itwill sometimes escape the needle.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 9 of the drawings that there is mounted onthe usual pivoted thread-guide post 126 a horizontally-disposed end-beveled cam 127, that lies when the post isin active position directly above the upper edge of the central knittingcam. The function of the cam 127 is to en gage the raised or Lip-thrown needle-heels in its path and thereupon direct them uniformly into line upon the upper edge of the central cam. Thus the proper position of the upraised needles in respect to the depressing devices will be insured. By swinging outward the pivoted guide-post the cam 127 is withdrawn from the cam-cylinder, so as to permit the removal of needles, the.

Respecting the sinkeror web-holder mechanism herein, 128 represents one of a series of vibratory sinkers which are arranged aronnd the upper end of the needle-cylinder in a manner to alternate with and work between the needles. Each of the sinkers comprises a vertically-arranged lever provided at its lower end with a rounded lug 129, which is fitted to an annular groove 130 in the exterior of the needle-cylinder, and at its upper end with the usual stitch-engaging hook 131. It is also provided at or near its lower end with an outwardly-extending cam-engaging portion 132, the under edge of which is preferably beveled or inclined, as shown. The series of sinkers are retained yieldingly in engagement with the groove 130 and also with the stitches by the action of a coiled spring-band 133, which encircles the sinkers immediately above their cam-engaging members. Encircling the needie-cylinder is a fixed annulus 134:, the upper edge of which is grooved radially to receive and guide the lowerportions of the several sinkers. Rotatably mounted on this annulus is a ring 135, carrying on its inner wall appropriate cams 136, which are so constructed and arranged that during the rotation of the ring they engage the members 132 of the sinkers successively and effect the requisite disengagement and reengagement of the hooks from and with the stitches during the formation of the latter. The cam-ring is rotated in the usual manner by means of the threadguide post extending between lugs 137 on the ring. (See Figs. 14, 15, and 16.)

Bythe construction just described it will be seen that while the sinkers are operated by the cams not only to release but to engage the stitches the sinkers are at other times held yieldingly in action by the spring-band. It will also be seen that should the hook portions of the sinkers when the same are moved inward by the cam engage thick, irregular, or knotty yarn the lower portions of the sinkers, being looselyfitted to the groove in the needle-cylinder, will, by reason of the undue resistance of the yarn to the sinker-hooks, move slightly outward against the action of the spring, and thereby relieve the yarn from the strain to which it would be subjected if thesinkers were merely vibratory from a fixed point, or, in other words, the sinker-hooks when they are thrown inward by the cam act uniformly upon the yarn irrespectiveof the varying thickness of the latterthat is to say, in the event of the hooks engaging an extra thick or knotty portion of yarn such hooks will merely pivot on the yarn and the lower portions of the sinkers will move outward against the stress of the spring, but upon e11- gaging a regular portion of the yarn the hooks will be positively moved inward and engaged therewith in the usual manner.

Although a single spring has been shown and described herein as acting upon the sinkers to perform the double function of holding them yieldingly against the stitches and yieldingly against their lower or normal fulcra to permit the actions just stated, yet it will be understood that independent springs may be employed to effect the double function performed by said spring with out departing from this feature of our invention.

The general operation of the machine above described may be summarized as follows: To start, the operator throws the belt-shipper 63 to the right. This runs the belt onto the tight pulley 46 and rotation begins. The lever 88 is held by the spring 96 in right-hand position, the clutch thus being disengaged from pulley 46. Pawl 84.- rests upon and works the ratchet 82 on the shaft i3,which shaft carries the pattern-chains 39 and S1. Rotation continues until the lug on the chain 81 strikes leverarm 119 and, by turning the eccentric 115 and lowering the arm 112 and the needle-cylinder carried thereby, tightens the stitches. The knitting of tight stitches continues until the lug 81 on chain 31 strikes the stud 80 on lever 79, whereby the pin 76 is depressed, and the latch-arm 69 is thereby also depressed and released from the catch 73, thus permitting the spring 64: to move the shipper 63 to the left and shift the belt to the loose pulley -17. Rotation then ceases and the machine stops. The operator then raises the handle-arm of lever 118 and thereby raises the needle-cylinder to make the stitch length normal. He then pushes the raising-cam S in to operative position and raises half the needles out of operation by giving the cylinder a partial revolution. He next throws the segment 15 to the left, thereby lowering the lifters 9 into position for action and lowering the depressors 10 out of action. The operator then throws lever 88 to the left and stud 9st thereon moves the clutch 52 to the left into engagement with the fast pulley 46 and starts reciprocation. Pawl 84 is rendered inactive by arm 90 lifting the rockarm 91 and thereby the pawl 84. Pawl 4A is made active by the shifting of the heel 102 of the arm 45 to a position opposite the eccentric 51. Narrowing commences and c011- tinues until a projection 40 on the patternchain 39 rocks the shaft 29, which. moves the intervening levers 30 31 33 to cause the head 37 to engage the latch-arm 25 and raise it out of the notch 27 in the segment. The segment thus being released, the spring 22 moves it to the right, whereby the lifters are thrown out of action and the depressors thrown into action. Then widening begins and continues until a suitable projection on the chain 39 engages the pin 101, thereby rocking the lever 97 and disengaging it from the recess 99. Then the spring 96 moves the lever 88 to the right, in consequence of which the clutch 52 is disengaged from fast pulley 46, reciprocation ceases, and the machine stops. The operator then moves the cam 106 inward into position to engage the needle-heels and gives the needle cylinder a partial revolution, whereby the said cam throws the inactive needles down into active position. The op erator then throws the shipper 63 to the right and the circular knitting is resumed.

It will of course be obvious that our improvements above described may be applied to a machine wherein a rotary needlecylinder is used in connection with a fixed camcylinder, and therefore it is remarked that while We have in certain claims defined the driving-shaft as geared with the cam-cylinder yet we consider that it would be a complete equivalent to gear the shaft with the needle-cylinder. Further, we do not limit our invention to the particular construction and organization herein shown and described, as the same may in many respects be considerably modified without departing from the fair spirit of the invention.

WVe claim- 1. The combination, with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, a needle-picker, and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided with a recessed or cam surface so constructed as to engage the picker and maintain it out of action, when in one position, and, when in another position, to release the picker and permit it to return to action, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, a needle-picker, and means tending to maintain said picker normally in action, of a slide provided with a recessed or one position, and, when in another position,

one position, and, when in another position, to release the picker and permit it to return to action, means tending to maintain said slide normally in one position, means to lock the slide temporarily in the other position, and means for automatically unlocking the slide, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, a set of needle-lifters, a set of needle-depressors,and means tending to maintain said lifters and depressors normally in action, of a slide provided with recessed or cam surfaces so constructed that in one position the slide engages the lifters holding them inactive while the depressors are active, and in another position it engages the depressors holding them inactive while the lifters are active, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, a set of needle-lifters, a set of needle-depressors,and means tending to maintain said lifters and depressors normally in action, of a slide operatively connected with said lifters and depressors and provided in its upper edge at points adjacent to the reat predetermined intervals, a spring to maintain said device in one position, a vibratory latch-arm supported in proximity to said device and adapted to engage it and lock it in another position, and automatic mechanism for disengaging said arm, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, a set of needle-lifters, a set of needle depressors, and means tending to maintain said lifters and depressors normally in action, of a device to cause and maintain the active or inactive positions of said lifters or depressors at predetermined intervals, means to maintain said device in one position, a latch-arm supported in proximity to said device and adapted to engage it and lock it in another position, a vibratory lever, a head thereon movable into and out of the path of said latch-arm, a pattern mechanism, and operative connections intermediate said mechanism and lever, substantially as described.

9. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination, with the cam-cylinder, its knittingcams, and the need le-cylinder,- of i a shaft geared with said cam-cylinder, continuouslyoperating mechanism for driving said shaft, means for throwing said mechanism into and out of gear with the shaft, a sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, a second shaft,

a sprocket-wheel thereon, a chain connecting said wheels, means for continuously reciproeating the sprocket-wheel on said second shaft, and means for operatively connecting the sprocket-wheel first named with its shaft, substantially as described.

10. In a circular-knittin g machine, the combination, with the cam-cylinder, its knittingcams, and the needle-cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam-eylinder, continuouslyoperating mechanism for driving said shaft, a pattern-chain, its supporting and operating parts, means actuated by the chain at predetermined intervals to effect the disengagement of said mechanism from the shaft, a sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, means whereby it may be operatively engaged therewith, a second shaft, a sprocket-wheel thereon, a chain connecting the sprocketwheels, and means for continuously reciprocating the sprocket-wheel on said second shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination, with the cam-cylinder, its knittingcams, and the needle-cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam-cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means for driving, thesame, means for automatically transferring said belt from the fast to the loose pulley at predetermined intervals, a sprocket-wheel loosely mounted on said shaft, means for engaging it with the fast pulley when the belt is on the loose pulley, a second shaft, a sprocket-wheel thereon,

a chain connecting the sprocket-wheels, and means for continuously reciprocating the sprocket-wheel on said second shaft, substantially as described.

12. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination, with the camcylinder, its knittingcams, and the needle-cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam-cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means for driving the same, a belt-shipper frame, a spring tending to maintain the same normally adjacent to the loose pulley, a latch-arm constructed and arranged to maintain said frame adjacent to the fast pulley, a reciprocable pin engaged with the arm and adapted to operate the same, a lever in proximity to said pin, and pattern mechanism adapted to actuate said lever at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

13. In a circular-knittin g machine, the combination, with the cam-cylinder, its knittingcams, and the needle-cylinder, of a shaft geared with said cam-cylinder, fast and loose pulleys on said shaft, a continuously-driven belt, means for driving the same, a belt-shipper frame, a spring tending to maintain the same normally adjacent to the loose pulley,a slotted latch-arm pivotally connected with said frame, means engaged by said arm to maintain the frame adjacent to the fast pulley, a vertically-reciprocable pin extending through the slot in, and engaging with, said -bination, with its driving-shaft, of mechanism for imparting thereto continuous rotary motion, means for maintaining said mechanism normally inactive, devices to maintain said mechanism temporarily in action to effeet the continuous rotary movement of said shaft, a second shaft, pattern mechanism thereon, operative connections intermediate the same and said devices, a ratchet-wheel on said second shaft, a pawl to coact with said wheel, means for reciprocating the pawl, mechanism for imparting to the driving-shaft reciprocating rotary motion when the firstnamed mechanism is inactive, a device for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, and means on said device for thereupon moving the pawl out of action, substantially as described.

15. In a circular-knitting machine,the combination, with its driving-shaft, of mechanism for imparting thereto continuous rotary motion, automatic shifting means for rendering said mechanism inactive at certain times, a second shaft, a pat-tern device thereon, operative connections between said device and the shifting means, a ratchet-wheel on said latter shaft, a pawl to coact with said wheel, means for reciprocating the pawl, mechanism for imparting to the driving-shaft reciprocating rotary motion when the mechanism first named is inactive, a device for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, and means on said device for thereupon moving the pawl out of'action, substantially as described.

16. In a circular-knittin g machine provided with narrowing and Widening mechanism, the combination,with the driving-shaft,of mechanism forimparting thereto continuous rotary motion, and means for rendering said mechanism inactive at certain times, mechanism for imparting to the driving-shaft reciprocating-rotary motion when the first-n amed mechanism is inactive, a device for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, a second shaft,pattern mechanism thereon for controlling said narrowing and Widening mechanism, a ratchet-wheel on said shaft, a pawl to coact with said ratchet-Wheel, means for reciprocating said pawl, and means on said device for throwing the pawl into and out of action, substantially as described.

17. In acircular-knittingmachine provided with narrowing and widenin g mechanism, the combination,with the driving-sl1aft,of mechanism for imparting thereto continuous rotary motion,means for rendering said mechanism inactive at certain times, mechanism forimparting to the driving-shaft reciprocating rotary motion when the first-named mechanism is inactive, a lever for throwing the reciprocatin g mechanism into action, a second shaft, pattern mechanism thereon for automatically controlling said narrowing and widening mechanism, a ratchet-Wheel on said shaft, a

pawl to coact with said wheel, means for reciprocating the pawl, and a latch-arm on said lever adapted to support the pawl and move it out of and into action, substantially as described.

18. In a circular-knitting machine, provided with narrowing and widening mechanism, the combination,with the driving-shaft, of mechanism forimparting thereto continuous rotary motion, means for rendering said mechanism inactive at certain times, mechanism for imparting to the driving-shaft reciprocating rotary motion when the firstnamed mechanismis inactive,a hand-lever for throwing the reciprocating mechanism into action, a spring tending'to maintain said leverina normal position, a latch-lever mounted on the hand-lever, provisions whereby said latch-lever holds the hand-leverin opposition to the spring,a vibratory arm depending from said latch-lever, a pawl on said arm, means for actuating the arm, a second shaft, a pattern chain thereon for controlling the said narrowing and widening mechanism, and a ratchet-wheel on said shaft adapted to be operated by the pawl, substantially as described.

the needle-heels in its path and be locked temporarily in action thereby, substantially as described.

20. The combination, with a cam-cylinder and its cams, of a diagonally-disposed needledeflecting cam movable into and from the interior of the cylinder in a path eccentric to a V I the axis of said cylinder, the forward or acting edge of the cam being beveled radially in relation to the latter, and a spring tending to maintain said cam normally retracted, substantially as described.

21. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, its cams, a needle-cylinder and its needles, of an eccentric head, means for supporting the same, means operatively connecting said head with the needle-cylinder, a lever connected with said head, one arm of which lever constitutes a handle, a pattern mechanism for actuating the other arm of the lever, and adj ustable means for limiting the movement of said lever, substantially as described.

22. The combination, witha cam-cylinder, its cams, a needle-cylinder and its needles, of an eccentric head, means for supporting the same, means operatively connecting said head with the needle-cylinder,andautomatic mechanism for turning said head, substantially as described.

23. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, its earns, a needle-cylinder and its needles, of an eccentric head,a vertically-adjustable support for said head, means for securing said support in positions of vertical adjustment, and means operatively connecting said head with the needle-cylinder, substantially as described.

24. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, its cams, a needle-cylinder and its needles, of an eccentric head, a support therefor, operative connections between said head and the needle-cylinder, a lever on the shaft'of the eccentric, and pattern mechanism for actuating said lever, substantially as described.

25. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, its knitting-cams, and a needle-depressor including a picker-arm, of a plate in rear of the said arm, a support for said plate, and a spring to hold the plate yieldingly toward and adj acent to said arm, substantially as described.

26. The combination, with a cam-cylinder, it's knitting-cams, and a needle-depressor embodying a spring-actuated picker-arm and a fixed rearward cam with which it coacts, of a movable plate having its forward edge in.- clined like the cam and supported adjacent thereto, and means tending to hold said plate yieldingly beyond the cam, substantially as described.

. 27 The combination,with a cam-carrier, its knitting-cams, the needle-support and its needles, of a series of loosely-mounted vibratory sinkers, arranged to alternate with and work between the needles, each of said sinkers being provided with an inwardlyextending stitch-engaging portion at its upper end, and with an outwardly-extending cam-engaging portion, and normally'fulcrumed at its lower inner side, and spring means acting upon the said sinkers to perform the double function of holding them yieldingly against the stitches and yieldingly against their normal fulcra, whereby during the ordinary operation of the machine the sinkers will rock upon their normal fulcra when actuated by the cam or by the spring means, but when a sinker engages thick or irregular thread it will be rocked upon the thread as a fulcrum and the lower portion of the sinker will move outwardly by actuation of the cam and the thread will not be cut by the sinker, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. PAXTON. ELLIS I. ONEILL.

WVitnes ses: 7

JOHN R. NOLAN, ANDREW V. GROUPE. 

